HelenTate

Early Years Curriculum Consultant and Deputy Head/EYFS lead for an Academy Trust.

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@etihad I am trying to cancel my flight next Saturday 28th with no luck at at all. It was booked prior to 28th Feb 2026 and I have tried to cancel via the Etihad chat, Etihad WhatsApp and on the Etihad app, as well as trying to call the contact centre. Please can you advise

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@joyfulreadingx @HeatherTall123 @MissSEYFS_Year1 @EyfsMagicBegins My initial thought is ask the children what they would like. But an obvious one would be a beach party, they can make their own food, borrow some paddling pools, deck chairs, make a mini beach etc etc 😎🌞🍦

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@HeatherTall123 @joyfulreadingx @MissSEYFS_Year1 @EyfsMagicBegins I will come as well 😀

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

Want to see a baby make 60 million neural connections? 🧠

Look no further than this fantastic video.

As they bide a little time in the car, our hero and his dad engage in this lovely “serve and return” interaction.

And it’s hard to tell which of them is loving it more.

If you’re a new parent or grandparent, know that these face-to-face, back-and-forth interactions are one of the very best ways to light up your baby’s developing brain.

At birth your baby’s brain is home to up to 100 billion neural (nerve) cells - but depends heavily on early experiences and interactions to help create the connections between them that will go on to undergird language and more sophisticated forms of cognition.

During the earliest months of life researchers estimate that these neural connections occur at a rate of one million per second - meaning that 60 million or more occur over the course of this beautiful one minute conversation.

Talk, talk, talk to your baby. The payoff will be huge.

This loving father and son duo was shared to TT by smileybunch.

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@BerkyCheltenham A great day with a great team 😃

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@JudithTwani What a lucky audience - they can be nothing but inspired by you @JudithTwani xx

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@PenAHay @ace_southwest @houseimaginatn I absolutely loved being part of this project in the past. It was such wonderful professional development and more importantly had such an impact on children’s experiences and learning. I still talk about 5x5x5 in my training with other practitioners 😀

[Ruth Swailes @SwailesRuth]

Bristol, Bath and Somerset colleagues looking for a teacher of computing/ computer science, also experienced in teaching phys/maths. I have a friend, currently SLT who needs to relocate and is looking for supply/ long term. Available from Christmas. DM me for details .

[Meg Tate @megantate25]

Great to see the children are enjoying the rugby sessions this week!🏉

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@SwailesRuth Gorgeous young lady x

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@joyfulreadingx @TracyBoulton @PalladianTrust Lovely to see you once again @joyfulreadingx and all of the joyful early years teams 😀

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@SollyKathryn I used to have a clay area in my provision - children learnt how to cut the clay and also how to look after their clay if they want to use it again. So many skills learnt through having clay in the provision.

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@SwailesRuth So lovely to catch up and put the EYs world to rights 😃😃😃😃😃

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@shitscaredmum I’m so so sorry to read this sad news. Deepest condolences x

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@shitscaredmum I cannot imagine the pain and heartache you are all going through. Sending so much love at such a sad and painful time.

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@smithsmm A really good blog - thank you

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@SwailesRuth Sending much love to you all x

[Dan Wuori @DanWuori]

The early years are a uniquely consensual period of human development during which we as adults hold the power to promote (or hinder) children’s long term success through the interactions and experiences we provide. Let’s get it right.

Happy Week of the Young Child! #WOYC23

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@julierees100 @RachelUssher @LPS_HFD Congratulations Rachel 🤩

[HelenTate @HelenTate68]

@julierees100 Congratulations Julie- you will be so missed by all but so many will benefit from your experiences x